Controller



Oct 27, 1936. PERRY 2,059,023

CONTROLLER Filed July 10, 1935 4 A2 I 22 A; Fig.

lhvehto'vz Charles L. F B 2 Patented Get. 27, 1936 ran STATES PTET OFFlCE conrraonmza New York Application July. 10, 1935, Serial No. 30,618

7 Claims.

My invention relates toelectric switches or controllers, more particularly to cam operated switches or controllers, and has for an object the provision of a simple, reliable and inexpensive 5 device of this character.

Various types of cam operated switches or con trollers have heretofore been proposed in which a plurality of switch members operable by suitably shaped cams are provided for selectively opening 10 and closing a plurality of circuits. As heretofore constructed, however, such devices have been provided with switch members pivotally mounted on supports spaced along one or both sides of the cam shaft, and accordingly, such devices 15 have necessitated considerable installation space. Much is yet to be desired in a switch or controller of this character having a minimum number of parts compactly arranged to provide a rugged device which may be installed in a relatively 20 small space. Accordingly, it is a further object of my invention to provide a compact and rugged cam operated switch which is simple and inexpensive to construct and which is reliable in its operation.

25 In carrying out my invention in one form, I provide a controller having a rotatable operating shaft on which the switch members are jour naled for rotational movement independent of the shaft, together with a plurality of cams se- 30 cured to the shaft and co-operating with suitable mechanism upon rotation of the shaft to turn the switch members on the shaft. More specifically, I provide a plurality of pairs of spacedapart fixed contacts arranged along the shaft,

35 the switch members being spaced along the shaft and movable on'the shaft so as to co-operate with the fixed contacts in sequence predetermined by the conflguration of the cams. Each switch member is connected by a link to a pivoted cam lever biased to engage an associated one of the cams whereby each of the cam levers is operable by the associated cam to control the position of an associated switch member. Means are also provided for rotating the shaft in prede- 45 termined steps.

For a more complete understanding of my invention, reference should now be had to the drawing in which Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a multi-circuit controller embodying my invention, certain parts of the device being broken away more clearly to illustrate the construction; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in elevation, illustrating the details of construction of one of the portions of parallel rows thereon.

the device shown in Fig. l; and Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3. Referring now to the drawing, I have shown my invention in one form as applied to a multicircuit controller having a casing comprising a 5 base H), a pair of end walls H and I2, and a cover l3. Secured to the base l adjacent the end walls, I provide a pair of supports l4 and i to the upper ends of which are secured by suitable screws IS, a pair of spaced contact blocks H and I8 formed of insulating material, which extend substantially the length of the controller. Each of the contact blocks I1 and I8 is provided with a plurality of contact studs l9 arranged in Although the contact studs l9 may be mounted on the blocks in any suitable manner, in the construction shown, the contact studs are molded directly into the contact blocks. As shown, one end of each of the contact studs It extends outwardly from one side so of the insulating'block so as to provide a contact surface, and the other end of each contact stud extends into a recess in the other side of the block and is provided with a suitable terminal screw 2i.

In order effectively to insulate each pair of fixed contacts from the next adjacent pair of fixed contacts so as to prevent arcing therebetween, I provide a plurality of barrier plates 22 formed of suitable insulating material. As shown best in Fig. 2, the insulating contact blocks l1 and I8 are supported at an angle to each other, and the barrier plates 22 are formed with tapered sides which fit into suitable grooves (not shown) in the blocks l1 and i8. It will be apparent that in assembling the controller, the barrier plates 22 may be inserted downwardly until the tapered sides thereof engage the blocks so as to prevent further downward movement. The barrier plates are retained in this position, shown, by means of a positioning rod 23 which extends the length of the controller and is supported at its opposite ends by the end plates II and [2, the positioning rod 23 being arranged to nest within a suitable groove 21 in each of the barrier plates 22.

Journaled at its opposite ends in the lower portion of the supports ll and I5, I provide an operating shaft 25 which extends substantially parallel tothe insulating blocks l1 and I8. As shown, one end of the shaft 25 extends through the end wall H and is provided with a suitable operating handle 26. Spaced along the shaft 25 and Journaled thereon for independent movement, I provide a plurality of switch members 2'! formed of suitable insulating material. the upper ends of contact block I I.

which extend into the space between the insulating contact blocks i1 and i8. Although I have shown certain of the switch members 21 as comprising single-pole units and certain others of the switch members 21 as comprising threepole units, it will be apparent that each of the switch members may be provided with as many poles as is desired. Secured to the shaft 25 intermediate the various switch members 21, I provide a plurality of suitably shaped cams or driving means 28 for controlling the position of the switch members 21 through suitable operating mechanism.

As shown best in Figs. 3 and 4, the operating mechanism associated with each of the earns 28 comprises a cam lever 29 pivotally mounted on a pin 30 which pin extends substantially the length of the controller adjacent the shaft 25 and is supported at its opposite ends by the supports 14 and I5 respectively. The cam lever 29 is provided with a portion 3| arranged to engage the cam 28 and is biased into engagement with the cam by means of a spring 32, one end of which bears against the cam lever 29 and the other end of which bears against an upturned portion of the base l0. Pivotally connected to the free end of the cam lever 29, is an operating link 32, the other end of which is connected to a lug 34 formed integrally with the switch member 2l. Secured to the opposite sides of the switch member 21 and extending outwardly from the upper end thereof, I provide pairs of contact supports 35, the outermost ends of which are overturned as indicated by the reference numeral 26. Arranged between each pair of supports 35 and biased against the overturned ends 28 by means of a spring 31, I provide a bridging contact member 38. As shown, each of the bridglng members 38 is provided with suitable notches intermediate its ends, in which notches the supports 25 are arranged to nest so as to maintain the bridging members 38 in the proper position. It will be apparent that the bridging members ll may be removed from the supports 25 for inspection or replacement by simply pressing them toward the switch member against the force exerted by the spring 31 and then turning them sideways so that they will pass through the space between the overturned end portions 38.

It is believed that the operation of --the controller will best be understood by reference to Figs. 3 and 4. As there shown, the cam 28 is provided with a plurality of camming surfaces 32, 40, and 4| arranged at different radial distances from the shaft 25. When the cam 28 is in the position shown in Fig. 3, it will be seen that the portion 3| of the cam lever 28 is biased by the spring 32 into engagement with the lowermost cam surface 29, and accordingly, the switch member 21 will occupy the position there shown, in which position one of the bridging members 28 engages the fixed contacts I! carried by the If the shaft 25 is now rotated in a counterclockwise direction to a position in which the portion 3! of the cam lever 28 is engaged by the cam surface 40, it will be apparent that the cam lever 29 will be moved in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot Iii against the force of the spring 32 so as to move the link to in a right-hand direction and operate the switch member 21 in a counterclockwise direction to an. intermediate position. In this intermediate posi tion the bridging members 28 do not engage the fixed contacts carried by either of the contact blocks ll, and i8, and accordingly, all of the circuits controlled by the switch will be open.

Further rotation of the shaft 25 in a counterclockwise direction will cause the cam portion 4| to engage the portion 3| of the cam lever 29, and accordingly, the cam lever 29 will be further operated about its pivot to rotate the switch member 21 to an extreme left-hand position in which the other bridging member 38 will engage the fixed contacts i9 carried by the contact block iB so as to close the circuit therebetween; This position of the shaft 25 and the cam 28 is shown in Fig. 4. It will be apparent now that the various switch members 21 shown in Fig. 1 may be operated to open and close the circuits controlled by the device in any predetermined sequence simply by varying the relative position of the individual earns 28 on the shaft 25.

It is desirable, of course, that the shaft 25 shall be rotated in predetermined steps and in order to insure that the shaft will not stop in an intermediate position, I have provided a suitable notching mechanism as shown best in Fig. 2. Although any suitable notching mechanism may be provided, I have shown, for purposes of illustration, mechanism of the type described and claimed in my prior Patent No. 1,896,850 issued February '7, 1933. As shown, this notching mechanism comprises a suitable star wheel 42 secured to the shaft 25 and a pawl comprising a pair of spaced elongate members 43, between the opposite ends of which are secured suitable rollers 44 and 45. Intermediate the endsof the pawl is a pin 46 to which is secured a biasing spring 41, the other end of which is secured to a pin 48 extending from the support H. The spring 41 biases the roller 44 into engagement with the star wheel 42 and the roller 45 into engagement with a notch 49 in a supporting plate 50 secured to the support 14.

As more fully explained in my above referred to patent, when the star wheel 42 is rotated, the roller 44 moves in unison with the star wheel while the roller 45 slides along one of the sloping surfaces of the groove 49. When the roller 45 reaches the end of this sloping surface and engages one of the end surfaces of the groove 49, further longitudinal movement of the pawl 43 will be arrested and the roller 44 will then ride up the sloping surface of one of the teeth of the star wheel. As soon as the roller 44 reaches the tip of the tooth, the spring 41 will bias the roller for movement in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of movement of the tooth of the star wheel, and will thus immediately snap the pawl 43 into its original position with the roller 45 again in the trough of the V-shaped groove 49 and the roller 44 in an adjacent indentation between the teeth of the star wheel.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made and I, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A controller comprising a base, a pair of spaced apart contact blocks of insulating material supported from said base and extending substantially the length thereof, contacts mounted on said contact blocks, an operating shaft rotatably supported in substantially parallel relation with said contact blocks, a plurality of switch 75 a cam secured to said shaft for rotation there-' with, a switch member iournaled on said shaft coaxially with said cam, and means pivotally supported in spaced relation to said shaftcontrolled by said cam for operating said switch member between predetermined positions as said shaft is rotated.

3. A controller comprising spaced apart fixed contacts, a rotatable shaft, a switch member journaled on said shaft and movable selectively to engage said spaced apart contacts, a cam secured to said shaft in coaxial relation with said switch member, and means mounted adjacent said shaft in spaced relation thereto operable by said cam for operating said switch member between predetermined positions.

4. A controller comprising spaced apart pairs of fixed contacts, a rotatable shaft, 9. switch member journaled on said shaft for movement relative to said flxed contacts, operating means normally biasing said switch member to engage one pair of said fixed contacts, and cam means secured to said shaft in coaxial relation with said switch member for actuating said operating -means to operate said switch member from said biased position.

5. A controller comprising an operating shaft,

a cam secured to said shaft for operation therewith, a switch member loosely mounted on said shaft for movement with respect thereto, a cam lever pivotally mounted adjacent said shaft and biased to engage said cam, and linkage means connecting said pivoted cam lever and said switch member whereby the position of said switch member is controlled by said cam, said cam being formed to operate said switch member between a plurality of positions as said shaft is operated.

6. A controller comprising a shaft, means for rotating said shaft through a plurality of predetermined steps, a plurality of switch members spaced along said shaft and journaled thereon, a plurality of cams secured to said shaft adjacent said switch members and operating means associated with each of said cams for controlling the position of an associated one of said switch members, said operating means being driven by said cams as said shaft is rotated.

7. A controller comprising a base, a pair of spaced apart contact blocks of insulating material supported from said base and extending substantially the length thereof, contacts mounted on said contact blocks, an operating shaft rotatably supported in substantially parallel relation with said contact blocks, a plurality of switch members spaced along said shaft and journaled thereon, portions of each switch member extend- 7 ing into the space between said contact blocks,

cam meanssecured to said shaft adjacent each, of said switch members, and separate operating means associated with'each of saidcam means for controlling the positionof an associated one of said switch members relative to'said contacts, said operating means being driven by said cam means as said shaft is rotated.

CHARLES L. PERRY. 

